Handling apparatus



Dec. 30, 1952 P. J. M. T. ALLARD 2,623,644

AHzmDLnqG APPARATUS Filed Jan. 18, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet l Tfrre JMT Allard wf www A++() rm Ly Dec. 30, 1952 P. J. M. T. ALLARD HANDLING APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 18, 1 950 4 5 W M t u .mAH Y 6, s v w 2 u n M w uw 3f. A

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Dec' 30 l952 P. J. M. T. ALLARD 2,623,644

HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 18, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 mmmr Allard l Det. 30, 1952 P. J.. M. T. ALLARD 2,623,644

HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 1s, 195o 7 sheets-sheet 7 Patented Dec. 30, 1952 HANDLING APPARATUS Pierre Jean Marie Theodore Allard, Eaubonne,

France, assigner to Societe Francaise de Construction de Bennes Automatiques, Paris, France, a French body corporate Application January 18, 1950, Serial No. 139,181 In France January 19, 1949 Claims.

lThe present invention relates to a handling apparatus intended in particular for automatically feeding by means of a bucket: cupolas, furnaces and other like chambers, in such a manner that when the bucket has been loaded on the ground for example, the operator starts, by means of a single movement, the following successive operations: the vertical lifting of said bucket, the lateral translation of same up to the axis of the cupola, instantaneous opening of the bottom of the bucket for discharging the materials, the closing of the bucket and finally the return thereof to the original position.

This apparatus is of the type in which a bucket provided with hooking head is suspended to a carriage adapted to move along an inclined track by the action, in one direction of the weight of the system and of the slope of the track, and in the other direction of a pull exerted on the lifting cable connected to the bucket. According to the invention the track is provided with two abutments between which the carriage is adapted to move, said carriage being provided with a rocking beam which supports at one of its ends the device for hooking the bucket and -acts at its other end on a locking device intended to retain the carriage at the highest point of its travel devices for reversing the direction of operation of the motor controlling the lifting winch being provided for acting on the one hand by the action of said rocking beam and on the other hand by the action of the tension of the cable.

Other features will become apparent from the ensuing description.

In the accompanying drawings which are given solely by way of example:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic elevational View of the device according to the invention,

Fig. 2 is a plan view corresponding to Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the bucket,

Fig. 3a is a side view corresponding to Fig. 3,

Fig. 3b shows the device in open position,

Figs. 4 and 5 are two views in vertical section attwo different positions of the device for controlling the opening of the bucket,

Figs. 6 to 8 are three elevational views of the device for attaching the bucket to the carriage.

Fig. 9 is a plan view on a larger scale of the device for attaching the bucket to the carriage.

Referring to Figs.` 1 and 2, l denotes any wall, framework or support, and 2 an inclined track formed for example by two channel bars which are open towards one `another and spaced a certain distance apart and support a carriage 3 provided with rollers II. g ,i i

The track 2 is provided with two abutments 5 and t for limiting the movement of the carriage 3 in both directions. Through said carriage 3 passes a pivot l, on which is adapted to rock a rocking beam 3 which supports at one end a hooking frame 9 adapted to retain a bucket IIJ. A pulley Il mounted on the rocking beam 8 acts as a deiiector for a cable I2 which is connected on the one hand to the bucket I0 and on the other hand to a winch I3 and is returned by a pulley or a set of pulleys I4 mounted on a stationary support.

At the end towards the abutment 5 of the track 2 is located a cupola I5 provided with an opening I5 for the bucket I@ tc pass through.

The end of the rocking beam 8 opposite the pulley II can, when it rocks, act by means of a pedal Il for example, on a reversing switch I8 that 'acts on the electric motor i3d of the winch I3.

A spring controlled abutment I 3 mounted on the carriage 3 limits the amplitude of swing of the rocking beam 8 in the direction f :and is furthermore adapted to cause a bolt 2l to rock about a pivot 20, said bolt being secured to a fork 22 connected at 23 to the abutment I9.

Said bolt 2I, by pressing against an abutment 24 provided on the track 2, prevents the carriage 3 moving towards the left and retains it in the upper position. The locking is obtained when the rocking beam S is not exerting any force on the abutment I9, i. e. when the bucket is resting on the ground and does not act by its weight on the opposite end of the beam 8. The position of the stop 24 is such that, when the carriage 3 is pressing against it, it is located a, certain distance on the left of its upper stop 6.

The bucket IU shown in detail in Figs. 3, 3a and 3b is of the shape of a frusto-cone slightly open towards its lower end, or any other shape with a taper that favors the outflow of the material through its lower part.

It is provided with hinged naps 25 of the shape of half-bottoms which are connected t0 a sliding weight 25 by means of a device described in detail in Figs. 4 and 5. The sliding weight 26 is xed to the end of the cable I2 which passes along the axis of a head 2'! provided with an annular bearing surface 28 and mounted on a handle-shaped frame 29 secured to the bucket ID.

On both sides of the bucket I0, two rods 30 which are secured to the movable sliding weight 26 and act as guides for same, are each extended to a head 3| and slide in tubes 32. Cross-:membersg33, secured to said tubes 32,\are connected 3 to rods 34 for controlling the opening of the flaps 25.

Each tube 32 slides in guides 35 and 35 secured to the body of the bucket.

Each tube 32 is surrounded by a tube 31 which is secured to the body of the bucket and which supports at its lower part-two pivots 33 on which are mounted two rocking levers 39 provided with rollers 40 and 4I at their ends.

Between the tube 32 and the tube 31 is located a sliding tube 42 which is provided at the lower part thereof with an annular bevelled flange 43 adapted to bear against a spring i4 which in turn bears against an inner bearing surface 45 of the tube 31, and at the upper part thereof with an annular iiange 43 capable of abutting against the lower face of the guide 3G. Said tube 31 is provided with recesses d1 into which can penetrate the upper rollers lil of the rocking levers 3s and the tube 32 is provided withrecesses 48 into which can penetrate the lowerrollers I of the rocking levers 39.

Therocking levers 39 are intended to retain thetub'e 32locked in the upper position, when their upper rollers it are held apart by means of the vbevelledflange v:t3 of the tube d2, the lower rollers 4I thenpenetrating into the recesses 48 of the'tube 32 (see Fig. 5).

In this positionthe tube ft2 under the action of the spring E4, abuts with its flange de against the-guidetand the recesses e8 of the tube 32 in its upper position engage the lower rollers Il! The device' for hooking the bucket it by means oflits head 2f! to the frame 9 is shown in Figs. 6 to 9.

The. frame s is connected to the rocking beam -by means of shock absorbers 53 and carries a tube-I that forms a. guide for the head 23 of the bucket when said bucket is hooked (see Fig. 8) on pawls 52 oscillatably mounted on pivots 53" and which move apart when the head 23 passesY and fall back again below its nange, thereby enabling said head to bear against them. The wholeweightof the bucket l@ and its contents is thus supported by the hooking device and by the rocking beam 8 by means of the spring shock-absorbers 5t.

The hooking device is furthermore provided with a-lever 54 which is adapted to rock on a pivot 55-and which is provided, on the one hand with-a projection 55- located below two pawls 51 securedlto the pivots 53 of the pawls 52, and

on theother hand with a crankpin 58 adapted,

with them in-thesame movement the pivots 53' and-the pawls-52 which move apart to enable the head28 to pass. The position ofthe counterweig-ht 59 is such that, when the carriage 3Q bears by the-bolt-Zlagainst thestop 2a, (Fig. l), thefcounterweight- 59 is located slightly on the right ofthe crankpin-58 lof the lever 54;

Thewinch. I3, onthe drum of which the lift'- ing calfnlev I2.is adapted to wind, is provided with a motor: I3a, which can be electrically reversed,

on the one hand by. means.. ofi the reversingy switches I 8. hereinbefore:mentioned; andon the* 4 other hand by means of reversing switches of a so-called cable slack device.

Said device (Fig. 1) comprises an arm B4 which is adapted to rock about a pivot 65 and which is provided with a roller 66 constantly bearing against the cable i2. When said cable becomes slack, the lever @dean rock and actsby means of a cam 61 on a reversing switch 63 controlling the motor I3a.

The device operates as follows:

The bucket lil previously filled and placed on the ground is attached to the cable i2 by its sliding lever the carriage 3 being retained in position by the bearing of its bolt 2| against the abutment 24 of the track 2 and out of contact with the abutment E.

When the motor i3d of the winch I3 is started, said winch winds the cable I2.

The carriage t, by the action of the tension of the cable, moves backwards against the upper abutment 6 and the crankpin 580i the lever 53' bears laterally against the counterweight 59 which rocks about its pivot 5I (Fig. 6). The bucket mo es lupwards towards the carriage and as the tension of the cable is exerted on the weightY the heads 3IV of the sliding rods 33 lit and retain the tubes 32 in their upper position.. Consequently, the lower rollers AI of thev rocking levers 33 are engagedin the recesses-43 of the tubes 32 (Fig. 5).

it the instant when the head 21 of the bucket iii comes into contact with the attaching frame` a, it engages in the tube 5I by moving the pawls apart and said pawls then fall below the ange 28. Then as the cable I2 continues to lift the bucket le, said bucket causes the beam 8 to rock in the opposite direction to f. The end of the rocking beam 8 then actuates the reversing switch labymeans of the pedal I1 and the winch i3 starts to rotate in the opposite direction.

As the winch I3 then pays out the cable, the rocking beam 8. moves downwards into the horizontal position and bears against the spring abutment I9 which releasesrthe bolt 2l, andthe hooking head 28 bearing against the pawls 521 compresses the springs of the'shock-absorbers 50! and moves the hooking device 9 downwards into its lower position. The sliding counterweight 59'` escapes from the crankpin' 58 and returnsv to its vertical position and the carriage EfstartsY its translatory movement (Fig. 8).

At the end of its translatory movement', the carriage 3 abuts against the low'erstopv 5,1the' -bucket Ill being placed in the opening I 6 of the cupola I5. The cable I2 continues tol un'- wind and the sliding weight4 25 ofthe bucketv therefrom, their fall being further facilitated'by y the downwardly tapered shape of the bucket I.

Then, asthe cablel2 becomes-slack, the lever' 661' rocks and reverses the direction'of operation ofthe motorby means ofthe reversingswitch 68'.'

The winch I3 winds upthe cable again', the.

weight 26 moves upwards and closes"thebucket;"

5 the various elements of which return to the position of Figs. 3 and 5.

Then the carriage 3 returns with a translatory movement towards the upper stop 5 and when it reaches this point, the weight of the bucket compressing the shock absorber springs 5d, the lever 54 assumes a position below the sliding counterweight 59. As the pull continues to be xerted on the cable, the bucket lifts the rocking beam 8 and the sliding counter-weight 59 which causes the unlocking lever 54 to rock in the directlon f1, the projection 5b lifts the pawls 5i which, as they move, cause the pawls 52 to open and leave a free passage for the head 28. Simultaneously, since the rocking beam 8 has rocked in the opposite direction to f, its rear portion actuates the reversing switch I8 and causes the Winch I3 to rotate in the opposite direction.

As the winch I3 pays out cable, the rocking beam B of the carriage 3 returns to the horizontal position and the pawls 52 are held apart since the sliding counterweight 59 is still resting against the unlocking lever 5d.

The bucket then becomes disengaged from the attaching device and moves downwards towards the ground. At the instant when the bucket touches the ground, the cable becomes slack and the carriage 3 moves slightly downwards again and bears with its bolt 2| against the stop 2li. In this slight movement, the sliding counterweight 59 escapes from the crankpin 58 and releases the lever 54, thereby enabling the pawls 52 to fall down into their waiting position (Fig. 6). Simultaneously and by the action of the slack causes the apparatus to stop, being ready for a fresh cycle.

It can be seen that, owing to these arrangements, the operation of the apparatus for loading cupolas or furnaces is entirely automatic from the instant when the operation for starting has been effected until the instant when the empty bucket is returned to the ground, this result being obtained with the use of a single motor.

Discharging is effected in an abrupt and easy manner, which ensures a satisfactory distribution of the material in the cupola, then the bucket closes immediately after having emptied its contents into the cupola and before effecting its return travel.

Both during the translation and during the emptying of the bucket, the same is not supported by the lifting cable which is always liable to break owing to wear, but by a mechanical device of greater strength than can be obtained with a cable.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A handling apparatus for conveying a material from one point to another which comprises an inclined track, two abutments secured to said track, a carriage rolling on said track the apparatus then of the cable, the lever 6d rocks and between said abutments, a rocking beam mounted on said carriage, a hooking device carried by said beam at one of its ends, a bucket provided with a hooking head adapted to engage said hooking device, a locking device carried by said carriage and adapted to be engaged by the other end of said beam and to retain said carriage, a lifting cable passing on said carriage and connected at one end to said bucket and at the other end to a winch, an electric motor for controlling said winch and electric reversing switches connected to said motor and adapted to be operated one by the rocking motion of said rocking beam and the other by the tension of said cable.

2. A handling apparatus according to claim l wherein said locking device comprises a spring abutment, a rocking bolt controlled by said spring abutment and a stop secured to said track in a point substantially corresponding to the highest point of the travel of said carriage, and adapted to be engaged by said rocking bolt.

3. A handling apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said hooking device comprises a guide tube for said hooking head, rocking pawls adapted to engage under said hooking head within said tube, a rocking lever comprising a crank-pin acting on said rocking pawls and a counterweight slidably connected to said track and adapted to engage said rocking lever.

4. A handling apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said bucket comprises a sliding cross arm secured to the corresponding end of said lifting cable, two pivotally mounted half bottoms, sliding tubes controlling the motion of said bottoms and a releasable locking device for connecting said sliding cross arm to said sliding tubes.

5. A handling apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said releasable locking device comprises, on each side of the bucket, a rod housed in said sliding tube, secured at one end to said sliding cross arm and releasably connected at the other end to said half bottoms, links connecting said sliding tube to said half bottoms, a stationary tube secured to said bucket and surrounding said sliding tube, a second coaxial sliding tube on the upper end of which may bear said sliding cross arm and disposed between said rst sliding tube and said stationary tube, a spring urging said second sliding tube towards said sliding cross arm, a cam carried by said second sliding tube and a rocking bolt adapted to simultaneously engage said cam at one end and said rst sliding tube at the other end.

PIERRE JEAN MARIE THEODORE ALLARD.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Temperley et al. Nov. 14, 1899 Number 

